Pelargonium plant named ‘Kuegrachepi’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Pelargonium  plant named ‘Kuegrachepi’, characterized by its upright, somewhat outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit; compact and vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; freely flowering habit; red purple and light purple bi-colored flowers; no cooling treatment required for flower initiation and development; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Pelargonium crispum×Pelargonium grandiflorum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘KUEGRACHEPI’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Pelargonium plant, botanically known as Pelargonium crispum×Pelargonium grandiflorum and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Kuegrachepi’.

The new Pelargonium plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventors in Dresden, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to develop new interspecific Pelargoniums that can be grown as potted and/or bedding plants.

The new Pelargonium plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventors in Dresden, Germany in 2006 of Pelargonium crispum ‘Randy’, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unidentified selection of Pelargonium grandiflorum, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Pelargonium plant was discovered and selected by the Inventors as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Dresden, Germany in December, 2006.

Asexual reproduction of the new Pelargonium plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Dresden, Germany since the spring of 2007, has shown that the unique features of this new Pelargonium plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Pelargonium have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Kuegrachepi’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Kuegrachepi’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Pelargonium:

-   -   1. Upright, somewhat outwardly spreading and mounded plant         habit.     -   2. Compact and vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit; pinching is not required.     -   4. Freely flowering habit.     -   5. Red purple and light purple bi-colored flowers.     -   6. No cooling treatment required for flower initiation and         development.     -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Pelargonium differ primarily from plants of the female parent, ‘Randy’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Pelargonium are more upright than and not         as trailing as plants of ‘Randy’.     -   2. Plants of the new Pelargonium have thicker stems, larger         leaves and larger flowers than plants of ‘Randy’.     -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Pelargonium are held closer         together than flowers of plants of ‘Randy’.     -   4. Plants of the new Pelargonium and ‘Randy’ differ in flower         color as plants of ‘Randy’ have red purple and white bi-colored         flowers.

Plants of the new Pelargonium differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Pelargonium are more compact than and not         as vigorous as plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Pelargonium have thinner stems, smaller         leaves and smaller flowers than plants of the male parent         selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Pelargonium flower earlier than plants of         the male parent selection.     -   4. Plants of the new Pelargonium do not require a cooling         treatment for flower initiation and development whereas plants         of the male parent selection do require a cooling treatment for         flower initiation and development.

Plants of the new Pelargonium can be compared to plants of the Pelargonium grandiflorum ‘Cambi’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,426. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Dresden, Germany, plants of the new Pelargonium differed from plants of ‘Cambi’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Pelargonium were more compact than and not         as vigorous as plants of ‘Cambi’.     -   2. Plants of the new Pelargonium had stronger lateral branches         than plants of ‘Cambi’.     -   3. Plants of the new Pelargonium had larger flowers than plants         of ‘Cambi’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Pelargonium plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Pelargonium plant. The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Kuegrachepi’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown 12-cm containers in Dresden, Germany in a glass-covered greenhouse during the summer and under conditions which closely approximate commercial Pelargonium production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levels averaged 4,500 lux. Plants were 13 weeks old when the photograph and the description were taken. In the detailed description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium crispum×Pelargonium     grandiflorum ‘Kuegrachepi’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Pelargonium crispum, ‘Randy’ not             patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Unidentified selection of Pelargonium             grandiflorum, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 18 days at             temperatures of 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 22 days at             temperatures of 22° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 26 days             at temperatures of 18° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 30 days             at temperatures of 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; creamy white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant/growth habit.—Upright, somewhat outwardly spreading             and mounded plant habit; inverted triangle; densely             foliated; compact and vigorous growth habit; freely basal             habit with about five to seven lateral branches developing             per plant.         -   Plant height, to top of umbels.—About 24 cm.         -   Plant height, to top of leaves.—About 19 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 24 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 6 cm. Diameter: About             3.5 mm. Internode length: About 2.3 cm. Strength: Strong.             Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 147B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; simple.         -   Length.—About 4.2 cm.         -   Width.—About 5.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Palmate, lobed.         -   Apex.—Cuspidate.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Serrate.         -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137C.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 137D. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A; venation,             close to 137A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 138B; venation, close to 138B. Petiole: Length: About             1.8 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces:             Close to 147B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement.—Single rotate flowers arranged in umbels             arising from apical leaf axils; umbels displayed above the             foliage on moderately strong peduncles; flowers face mostly             upright to outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—Slightly fragrant, aromatic.         -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about six             flowers develop per umbel and about 15 umbels per plant.         -   Flowering season.—In Germany, flowering initiates in the             spring and continues until the autumn; plants do not require             a cooling treatment for flower initiation and development;             early flowering habit, plants begin flowering about 60 days             after planting.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about six days on             the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Umbel height.—About 8 cm.         -   Umbel diameter.—About 7 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 5.6 cm by 5 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 2.3 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.4 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.             Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close to 138A.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Five arranged in a single             whorl. Length: About 3.7 cm to 3.9 cm. Width: About 1.9 cm             to 2.9 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate.             Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper             surface: Close to 59A; towards the margins, close to 76C;             venation, close to N66B. When opening and fully opened,             lower surface: Close to 59B; towards the margins, close to             76D; venation, close to N66C.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Five arranged in a single             whorl. Length: About 1.4 cm. Width: About 5 mm. Shape:             Lanceolate. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper surface: Close to 138A. Color, lower surface: Close to             138B.         -   Peduncle (umbel stem).—Length: About 4 cm. Diameter: About             2 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Angle: Mostly erect.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to N138B.         -   Pedicel (individual flower stem).—Length: About 2.5 cm.             Diameter: About 1.5 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Angle:             Mostly erect. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to             138B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity per flower:             About seven. Filament length: About 1.6 cm. Filament color:             Close to 75D. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther shape:             Ovate. Anther color: Close to 71B. Pollen amount: Moderate.             Pollen color: Close to 25B. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity per             flower: One. Pistil length: About 1.5 cm. Stigma shape:             Five-parted. Stigma color: Close to 71A. Style length: About             1.1 cm. Style color: Close to N66B. Ovary color: Close to             130D.         -   Seeds/fruits.—Seed and fruit development has not been             observed on plants of the new Pelargonium. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Pelargonium have been     observed to be resistant to Xanthomonas campestris pv. pelargonii     and Puccinia pelargonii-zonalis. Plants of the new Pelargonium have     not been observed to be resistant to pests and other pathogens     common to Pelargoniums. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Pelargonium have been observed     to have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain and     temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 40° C. 

1. A new and distinct Pelargonium plant named ‘Kuegrachepi’ as illustrated and described. 